Oluwatosin Oguntunde- Blog
- July 18, 2025
- 16 views
From Trainee to Global Icon: Building Real Value in a Noisy World
Recently, I had the privilege of speaking to a vibrant group of trainees under the Global Icon Consulting initiative—young, driven individuals preparing to become active global citizens. Our session was more than a class—it was a launchpad for shifting mindsets, challenging shallow narratives, and shaping high-impact, legacy-driven thinking. In today’s digital-first world, there’s a dangerous myth circulating: that visibility equals influence. That being seen means you’ve arrived. But influence without substance is like a megaphone with no message—loud, but empty. Two Pillars I Left With Them 1. You Cannot Be Relevant Beyond the Level of Value You Create Let’s call it out—clout does not equal competence.If you want to matter in your space, build something that solves real problems. According to the World Bank (2023), up to 60% of jobs in developing countries are created by small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—many of which are led by value-creating entrepreneurs. In Nigeria alone, SMEs contribute approximately 48% of national GDP and account for 96% of businesses and 84% of employment, according to the SMEDAN/NBS 2022 report. 🚨 Yet here’s the kicker: Only 15% of Nigerian startups survive past their fifth year.Why? Because most are built for visibility, not value. For applause, not for problems. “Those who build solution templates don’t just play the game—they own the system.”If you want long-term relevance, don’t chase virality—chase viability. Case in point?Andela, which started by training software engineers in Nigeria, didn’t stop at education—they built a system that now exports top-tier tech talent globally. That’s value that scales. 2. Don’t Just Make Noise Online—Make Sure Your Offline Success Speaks Louder Social media has become the showroom. But what’s the warehouse behind the showroom?In an age of digital performance, tangible results still reign supreme. According to Statista (2024), the average African internet user spends 3.4 hours daily on social media, yet Africa still struggles with a $100 billion infrastructure deficit annually (AfDB, 2023). That tells you something: Real-world challenges can’t be solved with Instagram Reels. Offline impact is what truly endures. The Edelman Trust Barometer (2024) reveals that 62% of Gen Z trust people with a proven offline track record more than digital influencers. That’s a game-changer for those prioritizing real work over online noise. “If your impact lives only on social media, you’re not building a legacy—you’re building a highlight reel.” Whether you’re running a social enterprise, leading a youth group, or launching a startup—your offline wins are your loudest testimonial. Digital buzz fades; community change lingers. Becoming a Global Citizen Starts With Local Impact Everyone wants to “go global,” but you don’t export what you haven’t built.Global relevance is a byproduct of consistent local excellence. A 2022 UNESCO report on Global Citizenship Education emphasized that youth must be equipped not only with cross-cultural awareness but with the capacity to solve practical challenges in their own communities first. That’s how global icons are born—from the ground up. Think of global icons like Dr. Ola Brown (Flying Doctors Nigeria) or Fred Swaniker (African Leadership Group). They didn’t build to escape Africa—they built to transform it. Final Word to Emerging Leaders To every dreamer, trainee, and future icon: ✅ Don’t just make noise. Make meaning.✅ Don’t just talk about ideas. Build institutions.✅ Don’t chase relevance. Create it through value.✅ Don’t just be seen online. Be felt offline. Because ultimately—global recognition follows local responsibility.And true greatness? It’s not about how loud you are…It’s about how much quieter the world becomes when your solutions start speaking. Quick Stats & References Written by: Tosin OguntundeLeadership Strategist | Global Project Manager | Founder, Opportunity Gist
- Oluwatosin Oguntunde
- Blog
- July 18, 2025
- 28 views
Reclaiming Nigeria’s Future: A Reimagined Education Strategy for National Growth.
Nigeria’s education crisis is not just significant—it’s catastrophic. We are staring at systemic failure that threatens national prosperity, innovation, and stability. A data-driven, future-focused blueprint is urgently needed to reform our educational ecosystem and reposition Nigeria as a leader in innovation, productivity, and sustainable development. 1. Curriculum Reform: Unlocking Creative Potential Nigeria’s current curriculum is outdated and largely unfit for the demands of the modern economy. Only 35% of Nigerian children achieve literacy proficiency by the age of 15, reflecting a national failure in foundational education delivery (ICIR Nigeria, 2024). Furthermore, with student–teacher ratios averaging 38 to 43 students per teacher, learners receive insufficient attention, resulting in stifled creativity and rote memorization (GITNUX, 2024). The government’s recent decision to introduce 15 vocational skill acquisition subjects—ranging from plumbing to solar installation—at the Primary and Junior Secondary levels by 2025 is a welcome move (Reddit Nigeria, 2024). However, execution remains the key challenge. Curriculum must not only transfer knowledge but actively nurture critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills to make our students globally competitive. 2. Mainstreaming Vocational & Technical Education Nigeria’s failure to industrialize is linked directly to its neglect of technical and vocational education. Presently, only about 12% of Nigerian secondary students are enrolled in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs (Dataphyte, 2024). Encouragingly, there has been a 287.8% increase in enrollment into technical colleges in 2024, with over 29,000 students sitting for entrance exams (Daily Post, 2024). Still, this is a mere fraction of what is required to build a productive workforce. A model worth emulating is that of countries like Switzerland and Denmark, where vocational training is a prerequisite for higher education. Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, launched in 2023, is a bold step in the right direction. It aims to train 3 million Nigerians in high-demand tech areas like cybersecurity, data analysis, AI, and cloud computing by 2027. For this to be transformative, these initiatives must be embedded within our broader educational policy—not just as optional tracks. 3. Infusing Technology and Innovation In a digital-first global economy, any education system that neglects technological literacy is preparing its youth for obsolescence. Yet, in Nigeria, only about 35% of people possess basic digital skills, and less than 12% of schools are equipped with functional computer laboratories (ZIPDO, 2024). Despite this, organizations like NACOS (Nigeria Association of Computing Students) have grown to include over 1 million student members, showing the strong desire of young Nigerians to participate in the digital economy. To close this gap, digital literacy must be mainstreamed—not treated as an elective. Coding, design thinking, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship education should be core components of both basic and tertiary education. In today’s world, speed beats size—and innovation determines survival. 4. Out-of-School Children: A National Emergency Nigeria has between 10.5 and 18.3 million out-of-school children, depending on definitions and data sources (El País, 2024, UNICEF Nigeria, 2024). This figure represents one of the highest burdens of out-of-school children globally. Alarmingly, over 60% of these children are girls, particularly in northern Nigeria where early marriage, cultural norms, and insecurity act as barriers to education (Vanguard, 2024). In 2024, the Federal Government pledged to bring 10 million children back to school within two years, backed by ₦50 billion ($60 million) in recovery funding (The Nation, 2024). However, insecurity remains a major obstacle—over 1,500 schoolchildren have been abducted since the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping in 2014, with such incidents still rising (AP News, 2024). A nation where children are too afraid to attend school is a nation whose future is being stolen in broad daylight. Any serious education reform must prioritize school safety, girl-child retention, and equitable access in both urban and rural regions. 5. Financing: From Tokenism to Strategic Investment In the 2025 national budget, Nigeria allocated only 7.0% of its total expenditure—approximately ₦3.52 trillion—to education (Nigeria Education News, 2024). This figure falls far short of UNESCO’s recommended allocation of 15–20% of the national budget, or 4–6% of GDP. Historically, budgetary allocations have remained between 5–8%, with the bulk spent on salaries, leaving infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher development severely underfunded. Without proper financing, even the best curriculum reforms or skill programs will collapse under the weight of poor infrastructure and low teacher morale. It’s time Nigeria treated education not as a recurring expenditure—but as a capital investment in national development. Conclusion: A Data‑Driven, Future‑Focused Reform Agenda 🔍 Education Snapshot: Nigeria must now do more than acknowledge the problem—we must execute the solutions with precision and urgency. Education must empower students to build, innovate, and solve. Without this, we will continue to graduate young people who are theoretically enlightened but practically stranded. References Author: Tosin OguntundeEntrepreneurship Advocate | Thought Leader | Global Development Enthusiast | Founder, Opportunity Gist Platform
- Oluwatosin Oguntunde
- Blog
- July 18, 2025
- 32 views
R.I.S.E. Africa: Resilient, Impactful, Systemic, Ethical – The New Code of 21st Century Entrepreneurs.
Africa is not merely rising; it is redefining itself in real-time. With one of the youngest populations globally—over 60% of its people are under the age of 25—Africa stands at the precipice of a demographic dividend (UNFPA, 2024). But to fully harness this potential, the continent needs a new wave of entrepreneurial leaders—visionaries who will transform economies, drive innovation, and influence change at scale. The 21st century demands a reimagining of what African entrepreneurship should look like. It’s not enough to be a hustler. The next generation must build systems, scale innovation, and serve purpose over ego. In this article, we explore the core qualities the next African entrepreneurship leaders must embody—and what’s at stake if they don’t. A Landscape in Flux: The Entrepreneurial Pulse of Africa Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is vibrant yet volatile. In 2022, African tech startups raised a record $6.5 billion, according to Partech Africa. However, in 2023, funding dropped to $4.5 billion, largely due to global economic slowdowns and a retreat by international investors (Partech, 2024). Despite this, Africa still accounted for over 600 tech hubs across 54 countries, according to the GSMA Mobile Economy Report (2023). Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt continue to dominate the startup landscape, contributing over 70% of total funding raised. Most importantly, Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050, reaching over 2 billion people. By then, one in four people on Earth will be African (UN DESA, 2023). With such staggering numbers, the pressure is on to build not just businesses—but institutions that last. The R.I.S.E. Framework: Qualities Defining the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs To lead Africa forward, tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders must embody four essential characteristics: 1. Resilient Visionaries These are individuals who persevere in the face of adversity. They are long-term thinkers, crafting scalable solutions in challenging environments. Example: Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech unicorn, navigated regulatory roadblocks, inflation shocks, and investor scrutiny to become one of Africa’s top financial platforms. In 2024, Flutterwave surpassed $3 billion in valuation, with operations in over 30 African countries (Financial Times, 2024). 2. Impact-Driven Innovators Profit alone is no longer enough. Leaders must tackle real problems—healthcare, education, food security—with business models that prioritize social and environmental returns. Example: The Tony Elumelu Foundation has supported over 15,000 entrepreneurs, leading to the creation of more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across Africa and generating over $2.3 billion in cumulative revenues (TEF Impact Report, 2023). 3. System Builders Africa needs businesses that go beyond the founder. Scalable enterprises require strong governance, operational excellence, and local-global thinking. Example: Omnibiz, a B2B e-commerce platform in Nigeria, integrates logistics, finance, and supply chain for small businesses. By digitizing informal markets, Omnibiz processed over $130 million in sales in 2023 and is expanding into Francophone Africa (TechCrunch, 2023). 4. Ethical Giants Corruption remains one of the continent’s biggest bottlenecks to progress. The next generation of leaders must place integrity at the heart of their operations. According to Transparency International (2023), over 50% of Africans believe that corruption is worsening in their country. Businesses that lead with transparency—such as Andela, Paystack, and M-Kopa—are winning the trust of customers and investors alike. The Economics of Opportunity: Markets Worth Building For According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC, 2024), Africa’s e-commerce market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, mobile money users in Africa surpassed 480 million in 2023, enabling inclusive financial services even in remote regions (GSMA, 2024). In agriculture, over 60% of Africa’s workforce is employed in the sector, yet food imports exceed $43 billion annually. Agritech innovation—from precision farming to blockchain-based supply chains—is a frontier begging for scalable solutions (FAO, 2023). Moreover, climate tech, edtech, and healthtech are all emerging growth areas, attracting a combined $1.1 billion in VC funding in 2023 alone (Briter Bridges, 2024). Building for Generations, Not Likes Africa’s next billion-dollar companies won’t be built on vibes—they’ll be built on systems, integrity, and relevance. As the global economy shifts and digital transformation deepens, African entrepreneurs must rise with clarity, purpose, and power. Here’s the call: Let us raise leaders who are visionary yet grounded, bold yet ethical, ambitious yet empathetic. Let us R.I.S.E.—and build the Africa we all deserve. References Author: Tosin OguntundeEntrepreneurship Advocate | Thought Leader | Global Development Enthusiast | Founder, Opportunity Gist Platform
